Everyone has noticed that new 6’6’’ Serbian, foreign-exchange student roaming the halls. To the girls, he’s the tall, dark and handsome bachelor with the cute little stud earrings. To the boys, he’s potential competition for a spot on the varsity basketball team.

Senior Mamcilo Latinovic arrived in America a few days before school started from Belgrade, Serbia, his birthplace, and is slowly getting accustomed to life in America.

“In Serbia, we live day to day. Nobody thinks on the future, just whatever happens, happens. But here, everyone thinks on their future, what will happen for the next week or month. It’s been hard transitioning,” he said.

A basketball player since the age of eight and an English speaker since fifth grade, (he learned in his schools in Serbia), his dream for his future is to continue playing basketball, Latinovic said.

His first goal is to receive a scholarship.

“I don’t know how long I’m going to stay here [after high school], because if I get a scholarship I will stay here in college. I don’t know where, but if I don’t get it I will go back to Serbia,” he stated.

Besides being an athlete, Latinovic enjoys listening to music, watching comedies and going to parties.

Through translator Junior Armin Lejlic, Latinovic said, “Belgrade is one of the most popular towns in Europe for parties. Serbia is also known for cute girls. In my opinion, girls in Serbia are prettier than here, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any beautiful girls here. It’s because I’ve only been here for a short time and only seen a few.”

Latinovic decided to become a foreign exchange student because his brother, Marko, ’05, had a good experience, along with a lot of his friends as well.

“Of course, one of the biggest reasons was basketball, and there are more opportunities here,” he added.

He said he’s looking forward to a great year and having fun. He plans to try out for the basketball team and to just chill with friends and the ladies.

With a smile he added, “If a girl is interesting, it doesn’t matter where we are, we will have fun.”